Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs Group Members: Thia Cabanela, Karen Chou, Brian Mulligan, Payal Patel Abraham Maslow (1908-1970) The Creator of the Hierarchy of Needs Abraham Maslow, an American Psychologist, created a triangle called the Hierarchy of needs in 1943. The Hierarchy of Needs makes a visual representation of the basic human needs. The needs represent anything from physical to mental needs. Maslow created the Hierarchy of Needs because he wanted to explore the sanity in people. The pyramid represents a sort of metaphorical steps a person has to take for personal enlightenment. Each step has to be accomplished to reach the next step. For example the lowest step, psychological needs of a person representing needs necessary for life before the person can worry about their security needs, which is the next step. The steps going in order from bottom to top are as following:
The Physiological Needs: Food, water, shelter and clothing. Anything a person needs to survive.
Examples from the book:
"That night we were so hungry that we stole people's food while they slept. It was the only way to get through the night." (pg. 29)
Early on the boys did whatever they needed to to gain access to food, even if stealing was involved.
"One evening we actually chased a little boy who was eating two boiled ears of corn by himself." (pg. 30)
"It is difficult to explain how it happened, but I mounted the coconut tree quite fast and unexpectedly. (pg. 47)
"It was either take the chance and eat this fruit that might poison me or die of hunger." (pg. 51)
"None of us was able to finish eating on the first day, but with a week we could eat any food in a minute. It was the only part of the training that we mastered." (pg 111)
All in all, the boys would do anything for food and survival. They stayed to fight with the armies because they were given food and shelter.
Security Needs: Protection from harmful persons or objects. Could be anything from bullies to abusive parents, without protection from these aggressors the person cannot move above the security step.
Examples from the book:
"Even though I was lost and lonely, it was safe for the time being." (pg. 51)
Stayed in the forest for a month because it gave him shelter, food, and most importantly protection from the rebels and the attacks.
In the beginning it seemed we had finally found safety at Yele. The village was always full of lively chattering and laughter." (pg. 101)
The boys stayed in the village because they felt safe. They saw people actually enjoying themselves, which they haven't experienced in a while. The army surrounding them made them feel protected.
Love and Belonging Needs: A feeling of belongingness to a community or love from other people. The person needs to either create a worthwhile friendship or a relationship with a lover or community to go above the belonging needs step.
Examples from the book:
"Being in a group of six boys was not to our advantage. But we needed to stay together because we had a better chance of escaping the day-to-day troubles we faced." (pg. 37)
Ishmael left the safety of the forest because he came across some boys he recognized from the village. Ishmael was lonely and needed friends to comfort the thoughts going on in his head.
"There were six boys, and three of them Alhaji, Musa, and Kanei, had attended Centennial Secondary School with me in Mattru Jong." (pg. 55)
"Sheku and Josiah stood next to me as if sharing a tent with them meant that I had become their big brother." (pg. 110)
Boys stayed in the army because they could relate to the other young boys surrounding them. They felt like they could go to each other for help and that they belonged to a family.
Self Esteem Needs: Making sure you do not hate yourself. The only way a person can step above the self esteem step is to be truly happy with one's self. Few go beyond this step.
Examples from the book:
"One of them said that they had chosen wrongly, since most of us who had been chosen were trembling and that meant we were sissies." (pg. 34)
The rebels made them feel like they were weak, but it really is okay for them to be afraid.
"Visualize the enemy, the rebels who killed your parents, your family, and those who are responsible for everything that has happened to you." (pg 112)
The government army made the young boys feel better about themselves and made them happy that they were finally getting revenge on the people responsible for ruining their lives.
Self Actualization: Highest step, means you go out and beyond for others to try to help them. Reaching the final step means you are without life needs and are perfectly comfortable in how you live and interact with society. In other words one has the ability to self sacrifice. Very rarely someone does reach this step.
Maslov described self-actualization as "the desire to become everythingonce that one is capable of becoming." Examples from the book:
Prior to their village being attacked, Ishmael had the first 4 levels of the hierarchy, and therefore was able to attain the last level of self-actualization
i.e. Talent show
However, once the first 4 levels were stripped from him, self-actualization was also taken from Ishmael.
All in all, why were the boys so easy to recruit? The young boys lacked most of the aspects of the triangle. All of them lost their families, the most important people in their lives. It was so easy for them to give in and join the army because they needed food, shelter, and companionship. The bottom three aspects of the triangle are what the boys need the most. As long as they have food and shelter to live and company to keep them away from their thoughts, they are willing to fight. They just wanted to kill whoever was responsible for making their lives miserable.
Group Members: Thia Cabanela, Karen Chou, Brian Mulligan, Payal Patel
Abraham Maslow (1908-1970)
The Creator of the Hierarchy of Needs
Abraham Maslow, an American Psychologist, created a triangle called the Hierarchy of needs in 1943. The Hierarchy of Needs makes a visual representation of the basic human needs. The needs represent anything from physical to mental needs. Maslow created the Hierarchy of Needs because he wanted to explore the sanity in people. The pyramid represents a sort of metaphorical steps a person has to take for personal enlightenment. Each step has to be accomplished to reach the next step. For example the lowest step, psychological needs of a person representing needs necessary for life before the person can worry about their security needs, which is the next step. The steps going in order from bottom to top are as following:
The Physiological Needs:
Food, water, shelter and clothing. Anything a person needs to survive.
Examples from the book:
Security Needs:
Protection from harmful persons or objects. Could be anything from bullies to abusive parents, without protection from these aggressors the person cannot move above the security step.
Examples from the book:
Love and Belonging Needs:
A feeling of belongingness to a community or love from other people. The person needs to either create a worthwhile friendship or a relationship with a lover or community to go above the belonging needs step.
Examples from the book:
Self Esteem Needs:
Making sure you do not hate yourself. The only way a person can step above the self esteem step is to be truly happy with one's self. Few go beyond this step.
Examples from the book:
Self Actualization:
Highest step, means you go out and beyond for others to try to help them. Reaching the final step means you are without life needs and are perfectly comfortable in how you live and interact with society. In other words one has the ability to self sacrifice. Very rarely someone does reach this step.
Maslov described self-actualization as "the desire to become everythingonce that one is capable of becoming."
Examples from the book:
Prior to their village being attacked, Ishmael had the first 4 levels of the hierarchy, and therefore was able to attain the last level of self-actualization
i.e. Talent show
However, once the first 4 levels were stripped from him, self-actualization was also taken from Ishmael.
All in all, why were the boys so easy to recruit?
The young boys lacked most of the aspects of the triangle. All of them lost their families, the most important people in their lives. It was so easy for them to give in and join the army because they needed food, shelter, and companionship. The bottom three aspects of the triangle are what the boys need the most. As long as they have food and shelter to live and company to keep them away from their thoughts, they are willing to fight. They just wanted to kill whoever was responsible for making their lives miserable.